If it be so, my dear Osborne, command
my advice, my sympathy, my friendship."

"I assure you, my dear friend, I was perfectly unconscious of this.
But that I _have_ for some time past been thinking--more seriously than
usual of the position in society which I ought to select, I grant you.
You are pleased to flatter me with the possession of talents that you
say might enable any man to reach a commanding station in public life.
Now, for what purpose are talents given? or am I justified in sinking
away into obscurity when I might create my own fortune, perhaps my own
rank, by rendering some of the noblest services to my country. That
wish to leave behind one a name that cannot die, is indeed a splendid
ambition!"

"I thought," replied the other, "that you had already embraced views of
a different character, entered into by your father to promote your-own
happiness."

Osborne started, blushed, and for more than half a minute returned no
answer. "True," said he at last, "true, I had forgotten that."

His tutor immediately perceived that an ambition not unnatural, indeed,
to a young man possessing such fine talents, had strongly seized upon
his heart, and knowing as he did his attachment to Jane, he would have
advised his immediate return home, had it not been already determined
on, in consequence of medical advice, that he himself should visit Bath
for the benefit of his health, and his pupil could by no arguments be
dissuaded from accompanying him.

This brief view of Osborne's intentions, at the close of the period
agreed on for his return, was necessary to explain an observation made
by Agnes in the last dialogue which we have given between herself and
her younger sister. We allude to the complaint which she playfully
charged Jane with having made to her brother concerning the length of
time which had elapsed since she last heard from her lover. The truth
is, that with the exception of Jane herself, both families were even
then deeply troubled in consequence of a letter directed by Charles's
tutor to Mr. Osborne. That letter was the last which the amiable
gentleman ever wrote, for he had not been in Bath above a week when he
sank suddenly under a disease of the heart, to which he had for some
years been subject. His death, which distressed young Osborne very
much, enabled him, however, to plead the necessity of attending to his
friend's obsequies, in reply to his father's call on him to return to
his family. The n